SOCCER
Charges sought for collapse
Brazil’s investigative police say they are seeking homicide charges against 19 people in the deaths of a man and a woman caused by the collapse of an unfinished overpass in the World Cup host city of Belo Horizonte. Police investigator Hugo e Silva said he sent the results of his probe to prosecutors on Wednesday. He says those named demonstrated a “disregard for basic norms of safety” by failing to correct problems in the structure, even after being repeatedly warned by specialists. Those implicated include government officials and architects, as well as engineers for two construction firms. Twenty-three were injured in the July 3 collapse. A bus, two construction trucks and a car were crushed beneath tons of concrete and steel on a major thoroughfare.
SOCCER
LFP probes players for bets
Fifteen professional players are being investigating by the French Football League (LFP) for breaking anti-betting regulations, the LFP said on Wednesday. It added that there was no suspicion of match fixing and that 23 “educators” (staff members) were also under investigation for breaking the same rules. The regulations state that no player, referee or staff member is allowed to bet on “competitions organised by the LFP.” In the 2013-2014 season, 87 professional players were found guilty of betting offences by the LFP, with 37 of them being sanctioned with fines.
BOXING
Uchiyama, Taguchi defend
Japanese boxer Takashi Uchiyama beat Thai challenger Jomthong Chuwatana by technical knockout in the second round to defend his WBA super featherweight title on Wednesday. Uchiyama improved to 23-0 with one draw and 19 wins by knockout. It was the 10th defense of the title he first won in January 2010. Jomthong fell to 9-1. Also, Ryoichi Taguchi of Japan made his first successful defense of the WBA light flyweight title he won in December last year with an eighth-round TKO of Kwanthai Sithmorseng of Thailand. Taguchi improved to 22-2 with one draw and nine wins by knockout. Kwanthai dropped to 49-4-1.
SKIING
Tina Maze takes year off
Two-time Olympic champion Tina Maze of Slovenia has announced a one-year break from ski racing before deciding about continuing her career. The 32-year-old Maze said on her Web site: “I feel that my body and my mind need a longer rest than usual. I will allow myself a one-year break before taking any further decision.” Maze, who earned gold in downhill and giant slalom at the Sochi Games last year, won the 2013 overall World Cup title with a record total of 2,414 points. Last season, she finished runner-up to Anna Fenninger of Austria and won two gold medals at the world championships in Vail and Beaver Creek. Maze is one of just six female skiers who have won World Cup races in all five Alpine disciplines.
ATHLETICS
Gustafsson banned for EPO
Swedish sports officials have banned race walker Andreas Gustafsson for two years after he was found guilty of using the blood-boosting hormone EPO. The sports confederation’s anti-doping unit says the 33-year-old failed a drugs test conducted in December last year in California by the US Anti-Doping Agency. Gustafsson, who was temporarily suspended in March for failing the test, has admitted to using EPO. He is one of Sweden’s best walkers and has competed in world championships and top European events.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care